James A. Garfield was the last of seven presidents to be born in a log cabin.

President-elect Garfield campaigned for the American presidency from the front porch of his house.

Garfield was the second president to die by assassination. Two months after being sworn into office, Garfield was shot in a Washington railroad station. Doctors repeatedly probed for the bullet with non-sterile instruments and unwashed fingers, the president died 80 days later.